
Autumn Lea^e. 



P s 

3545 

ItsAs 

1909 



Other ^PcieiT 



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Book. 

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



Autumn Leaves 

and 

Other Poems 



by 
MARY GRAY WINSHIP 



FLATBUSH 

1909 



Copyright, 1909 

by 

MARY G. WINSHIP. 



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- ifo 4-bo 



)CI.A253326 



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To E. U D. 



Autumn S^awa. 

CAILING swiftly through the air, 
Fairy barques of red and brown, 
Slender stems the helmsmen are. 
Guiding, guiding safely down. 

Down to deck the fro^y earth, 
With a robe of brilliant hue. 

Where the dancing sunlight fall, 
Like a gold thread woven through. 



Floating dancing on the wind, 
As a gu^ goes sweeping by ; 

Seeking some new re^ng place, 
There contentedly to lie. 

Stately trees wait gaunt and bare, 
For the la^ few leaves to go, 
Gently, gently shake them down, 

Autumn's bronze and red-gold snow. 



Ntgijt. 

CLOWLY the daylight is fading 

out of the sky, 
Swiftly with silent approaching, 

night draweth nigh. 
Out of the Heavens there shineth 

brightly each star — 
Gems in an opaline curtain, 

twinkling afar. 
Over the slumbering valley 

creepeth a mist, 
Silver the tree-tops are gleaming, 

by moonbeams kissed. 
Deep in the quiet now brooding 

o*er vale and stream. 
Power lies enfolded in silence, 

night reigns supreme. 



CILENTLY, swiftly the snow-flakes were falling 

Falling on field and hill, 
Steadily, noiselessly floating and drifting, 
Every nook to fill. 



Hushed were the winds, even each gentle zephyr. 

Slept in its hiding place, 
Softly and gently the snow-flakes were falling 

Over the cold world's face. 



Silently up on the brow of the mountain, 

In the deep gorge below, 
Out on the plain by the smooth-flowing river, 

Silently falling snow. 

Slowly and silently over the landscape — 

Stealeth the twilight gray ; 
Quietly settles the darkness and deepens. 

After the fading day. 



Black was the scene in the gloom of the midnight, 

Never a friendly ray, 
Strayed from light of some home on the hillside, 

Over the snowy way. 



Silently over the Heavens there spreadeth, 

Bright rosy tints of dawn, 
Harbingers of the first glad Christmas morning. 

The day when Chri^ was born. 

Silently down through the ages with Chri^mas, 
Cometh the Christ-Child's love ; 

Message of Peace — Salutation and Blessing, 
Decending like a dove. 



DAINT me a pidture, oh arti^ true, 
Of an azure sky, and a sea of blue, 
A deepening haze on the di^ant land, 
A golden light on the strip of sand. 
The flash of sails from the fisher boat, 
As they turn with the breeze and idly float 
A gleam of blue and scarlet flame, 
And the calm refledion, ju^ the same. 
The rosy shadows that come and go. 
As the blazing sun sinks round and low. 
The settling down of the purple pall, 
Be-gemmed with stars, that cover all, 
And the silver crescent in the West, 
Hanging bright and shining o'er the re^ ! 



I WOULD not ask for greater joy, 

Dear Jesus, than is mine. 

To feel Thee near me in my life. 

Well knowing I am Thine. 

I would not ask for any more, 

My Savior day by day, 
Than that Thou wilt with loving care 

Watch o'er me le^ I stray. 

I only ask, when sorrow's night. 

In darkness o*er me roll, 
The sunshine of Thy love may shed. 

Its brightness in my soul. 

And when for me, life's setting sun 
Makes dark my path — and drear, 

Above the shadows of this earth, 
May Thy ble^ Form appear. 



T LOVE to smell my mother's fan, 
It smells so good ; 
*Tis made of silk, with spangles on, 

And sandal wood. 

She keeps it in the bureau drawer. 

Away from me. 
But I climb up and smell of it 

Quite frequently. 

And then, before the looking glass — 

I make it shine, 
And when it sparkles — 

How 1 wish that fan was mine. 

Maybe some day — when I shall be 

a big girl grown, 
My mother will give me that fan — 

To be my own. 



®tjr ItatatiB of ttj^ §^^tp\}tthB, 

f^UT onthe plain, on Bethlehem's plain — 

Under the silent sky, 
Shepherds were tenderly guarding their flocks. 
Guarding with watchful eye. 

Far in the East, where the Orient sun, 

shines with a mellow light. 
And the roseate hue of the lingering day. 

Tinges the purpling of night. 



Quietness brooded, and reigned over all,- 

Nights sable hung low. 
Over fair Galilee — o*er Bethlehem — 

Bright with prophetic halo. 



Suddenly ! Lo ! in the Heavens appeared, 

An Angel shining fair. 
The wondering shepherds in awe beheld; 

His voice rang on the air — 

" Fear not ! For behold unto you is born, 

In the city of Bethlehem, 
A Saviour of Peace and forgiving Love, 

Promised of God to men. 

And with the Angel — at once there came, 
A white-robed Heavenly throng, 

Filling the place with a wonderful light. 
And the midnight air with song. 



Straightway the Shepherds arose and came — 

And found in a lonely bed, 
The infant Saviour — the King of Kings, 

As the welcome vision said — 

Ye nations ! Bow low at the manger throne. 
Where the Christ-child, once held sway, 

Ye Bells ! Ring out loudly the glad refrain — 
Jesus Christ is born to-day. 



lEaat^r iatutt. 

r7 RE the fir^ bright ray of sunshine 

Pierced the gloom of that dark night, 
Or the coming of Aurora, 

Bathed the world in rosy light ; 
When from out the trees and woodlands. 

Came no matin to His praise — 
Floating out upon the stillness, 

Such as feathered song^ers raise — 
Christ arose. 

While the dew unseen was clinging, 

To the petal of each flower, 
And the stars were vigil keeping, 

Never weary hour by hour ; 
When the very air seemed heavy. 

With the scent of blossoms sweet, 
Breathing out a subtle fragrance, 

As an offering at His feet-^ 
Christ arose. 



When the world was wrapped in slumber, 

In response to His command, 
Save a few, who loved Him, truly, 

Now an anxious waiting band. 
Ere the two came with sweet spices. 

Very early at the dawn, 
To anoint the blessed body 

Of their Lord, who now was gone — 
Christ arose 

He arose — and lives forever 

In that bright world far away, 
Where the Greets and walls are golden. 

And the night is changed to day. 
Where He shines — a brighter jewel. 

Than the diadem of Love, 
Which the ransomed ones are wearing. 

As they walk with Him above. 



Qlntttrtttntt. 

AY/HEN the curtain of night falls around me, 

And the work of the day is all done, 
And my sins in a weary procession. 
To memory come — one — by one. — 

I kneel at the casement, wide open, 

And lifting my eyes to the sky, 
I pour out my soul to my Saviour, 

And wait till He surely draws nigh. 

Till over my spirit there stealeth, 

A calm that is holy and sweet. 
As kneeling in lowly contrition, 

I lay all my sins at His feet. 

If out of my life should be taken. 

The season I love be^ of all, 
'Twould be this ble^ hour with my Saviour, 

That comes when the night shadows fall. 



'T'lS the calm and placid water, 

Where the ships at anchor lie, 
Which refledls each ma^ and folded sail. 
And rainbow tinted sky. 

So the soul which re^s on Jesus, 
Till He calmeth every strife, 

Shall find his image mirrored, 
In the heart and in the life. 



A OInrkrt Strgi?. 

I'D hate to be a cricket, 

The last one of the year, 
And have to live and sing all day, 
Alone, *mid grasses sere. 

rd be as cheerful as I could, 

But ever wonder, why 
It was for me to still remain, 

And my companions die. 

And memory would turn I know. 
Back to the summer long. 

When myriad crickets, ju^ like me, 
Had helped to swell the song. 



When, ever at the twilight hour, 

Beneath the silver moon. 
The cricket orchestra would play, 

Vibrating all in tune. 

But now, chirp, chirp, the days — 

chirp, chirp, 
And nights are cold and drear. 
And so, chirp, chirp, I know 

chirp, chirp. 
Jack Frost will soon be here. 

So, when I hear his silvery step. 
Come creeping o*er the field, 

rU chirp no more, for at his touch. 
The cricket's voice is sealed. 



',£C. 80 ^^"■*** 



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